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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
85
Overall
73

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Older Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • New Model is Panasonic LZ40
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Released April 2014
  • Replacement is Pentax K-3 II
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic LZ30 versus Pentax K-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the LZ30 (16MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the LZ30 (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The LZ30 was manufactured 15 months earlier than the K-3 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the LZ30 grades vs the K-3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Pentax K-3

 LZ30 K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Panasonic LZ30

 K-3 LZ30 
ReleasedApril 2014January 2013More recent by 15 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax K-3

 LZ30 K-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic LZ30 offers physical measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has specifications of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic LZ30 versus Pentax K-3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the LZ30 vs the K-3.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the LZ30 and K-3 is 66 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the LZ30 and K-3.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LZ30 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will provide extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older LZ30 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography factors
32
resolution is good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
79
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LZ30
Street photography with Pentax K-3
43
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (552 grams)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
great high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-3 Sports photography highlights
47
long zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (560 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Travel photography camera
56
better than average battery pack (380 CIPA)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (875mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (552g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
60
weather proof
megapixel count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
low battery life (560 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-3 Landscape photography factors
45
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
better than average battery pack (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
low battery life (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging features
Pentax K-3 Vlogging features
22
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (552 grams)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax K-3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Pentax K-3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Pentax K-3
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-01-07 2014-04-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3.2"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 800 grams (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1216
Other
Battery life 380 pictures 560 pictures
Battery style AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 2
Price at release $230 $639